AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

VEGETABLES.

Brinjal, onion and sweet potato are the important vegetables grown in the district. Their cultivation is concentrated in Brahmapuri and Chandrapur tahsils. The minor vegetables include tomato, bhendi and cabbage. The table given below gives tahsil-wise area under vegetables from 1956-57 to 1961-62.

TABLE No. 24

TAHSIL-WISE AREA UNDER VEGETABLES IN CHANDRAPUR DISTRICT FROM 1956-57 TO 1961-62.

(Area in hectares*)

*Figures in brackets indicate area in acres.

TABLE No. 24-contd.

(Area in hectares)*

*Figures in brackets indicate area in acres.

Brinjal.

Vange or brinjal is one of the most important green vegetables grown in the district. In 1961-62 it occupied an area of 337.103 hectares (833 acres) in the district. It gives best results if grown on medium brown and deep soil. First, seeds are sown in a nursery and are transplanted after about four to five weeks. Though sometimes brinjal crop is cultivated as a kharif crop, it is mostly produced after the monsoon is over. When grown as kharif crop sowing of seeds is done in August and in rabi season the sowing is done in February. The land is well ploughed and harrowed and made into beds or ridges and furrows. The distance kept round a plant varies between two and three feet. Farm yard manure is also applied. Irrigation is given immediately after the transplanting. Further irrigation is given regularly at an interval of about ten days.

The brinjal plant starts bearing fruit three months after transplantation and the harvesting takes another three months. The popular varieties found in the district are round or a little long purple and reddish white variety. The fruit is extensively used as vegetable.

Onion

Onion is the next important crop grown in the district. The  onion bulbs and its young leaves are used as vegetables, especially the bulbs are extensively used in various dishes. The crop can be grown on a variety of soils such as rich, sandy or medium black and black clayey loams. Heavy rainfall is detrimental to its growth. The land is well harrowed and made into ridges and beds. The seeds are first sown in nursery beds sometime in October-November and are transplanted after about four weeks. Prior to transplanting, the beds are irrigated. The seedlings are then transplanted at a distance of four to five inches in rows and about ten inches apart. Irrigation is given regularly after every 8 to 10 days. The crop becomes mature within three months after transplanting and the bulbs are gently lifted with the help of a light small spade.

Sweet potato.

Sweet potato, is grown all over the district except Rajura tahsil. In 1961-62, it occupied an area of 126.262 hectares (312 acres). The crop can be grown on a variety of soils such as light sandy, loamy as well as well-drained or medium deep type. The crop is generally produced in rabi season. The land is first well ploughed and harrowed and made into ridges and furrows. The crop is then propagated by cuttings having about three nodes of the old vines. These cuttings are planted on both sides of the ridges. Regular irrigations are given. Sweet potato, matures within a period of about five months. Red and white are the two varieties of the crop. The tubers are eaten raw, roasted, or boiled, and form a favourite dish on fast days. The vines are fed to cattle.

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